Johnson will out for his third game on end with a groin injury while a hamstring strain will keep Hurrell on the sideline.

Hurrell, who turned 23 today, was replaced at halftime in last Sunday’s 54-18 win over the Raiders at GIO Stadium in Canberra.

In his absence Ngani Laumape will move in from the right wing to start in the centres while 18-year-old Tuimoala Lolohea has been promoted from his bench role in his first two NRL appearances to fill Laumape’s spot on the wing.

“Konrad has a slight hamstring strain which we don’t think is too bad and we’ll give Shaun another week. We’re hoping they’ll both be available the following week.

“It means Tui will start for us on the wing. While he’s a little inexperienced in the position, we saw what he can do last weekend so we’re really happy to give him this opportunity. There’s no doubting his ability.”

As he did against Manly and Canberra the highly-experienced Thomas Leuluai will start at halfback. Having his third game back from his injury, Leuluai came up with three try assists and three line break assists against Canberra.

The forward pack is the same as the one that opened up against the Raiders with Sione Lousi again in the second row; he had the first of the Vodafone Warriors’ 10 tries in just the third minute on Sunday.

It continued a trend of early strikes in each of the side’s recent games with Hurrell scoring in the second minute against Manly, Simon Mannering in the third minute against Brisbane, David Fusitua after three minutes against Parramatta and Hurrell after three against Penrith.

In beating the Raiders, the Vodafone Warriors ended a run of nine consecutive losses at Canberra Stadium (GIO Stadium) since 1997.

The Sharks also present a significant challenge having won the last five matches between the two sides since the Vodafone Warriors won in Taupo in 2011. The last time the Vodafone Warriors triumphed at Mount Smart Stadium was a 30-16 victory in 2010 when Mannering debuted as the club’s new captain.

The Vodafone Warriors are back inside the top eight going into this clash against the bottom-placed Sharks. They were seventh for more than 24 hours before the Storm’s win against Wests Tigers last night pushed them back to eighth.

With their record points haul in Canberra (54), the Vodafone Warriors are the NRL’s leading attacking side with 473 points including 86 tries.

With his sixth career hat-trick last Sunday, winger Manu Vatuvei now ranks in the top 20 of all-time try-scorers with 131 tries in 189 matches including 17 in his last 20 matches. He has also helped himself to 12 tries in his last five games against the Raiders. He leads the club’s try scorers with 13 in 18 games this season while Hurrell has 11, fullback Sam Tomkins 10, Mannering nine and Johnson eight.

Ben Matulino will again come off the bench for his 148th NRL appearance on Sunday leaving him in line to play his 150th game when the Vodafone Warriors host the Sydney Roosters on August 24.

Happy to see Lolohea get a start on the wing - he impressed last weekend even though Canberra were not that great. Am liking the bench too - am a fan of Bukuya so hopefully he'll step up against his old club this weekend.

I wonder if there is a chance for late inclusions... they seemed pretty sure SJ would be right for this game. I guess we'll find out.

It's probably as good a team as we could name - looks like McFadden already sees Tui as too important to leave out, if given an opportunity to play him, even in a position he is completely unfamiliar with.

Still think this team is good enough to put 30+ on the Sharks... would back us to score even more if Konnie was playing.

He may still be questionable. Or even someone like Dane could still be questionable as he was also struggling pretty badly at the end. Henry could be a case of "he's playing, but even we don't know where yet". Hard to tell with all the niggles we picked up.

Defense is probably more important this week. Even with those 2 out we still have more firepower than the gummy Sharks. Defensive attitude and application (as well as the ever continuing quest for good handling) will determine this one.

He may still be questionable. Or even someone like Dane could still be questionable as he was also struggling pretty badly at the end. Henry could be a case of "he's playing, but even we don't know where yet". Hard to tell with all the niggles we picked up.

Or we may just be deciding to rest him one more week.

Click to expand...

Think your close to the mark. Just add, with so many niggles, they decided not to push their luck with another return from injury.

Add that to the fact Lousi had a monster game and Bukuya apparently missing only due to "personal reasons" and not injury. It looks the safest bet we can lay on the day.

Would love Konnie out there just to kick that edge up a notch but if Ngani has another blinder. The loss will minimal. .

The forward pack looks dope as fuck and the Snorks made 5th basically on the back of their pack last year. So winning games in the NRL can be acheived on the back of your pack.

TL and Chad had very solid games. That's what will be key again. They fire again and we win.

Pity about SJ, just hope that when he is back, he is back at 100% rather than coming back too early and reinjuring himself ala TL.

Would probably prefer Rapira to start with Matagi off the bench. Matagi's stats are a lil down from last year when he made such a huge impact coming into the side. I want to see the blockbusting runs and feel that him on the bench with fresh legs coming on at the 20th min mark can provide just that. Happy for Lolohea who made the most of his chances, albeit not in the halves as he might have preferred.

More of the same please Warriors!

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”​

I hope this means we are not risking Johnson & Hurrell due to not wanting to risk them against the Sharks and that they would be playing against the Panthers or Finals match, in other words
if the match was crucial they could be played.

As we've all said a few times over the key areas to compensate for are Johnsons kicking game and now Hurrells running meters.

It's pointless trying to compensate for unique qualities like say Hurrells tackle busts....Laumape is a hard runner of the ball but he's not Konrad.

The buffer is Tomkins and Leuluai. Those two have sweet timing together and this is why we payed overs for Tomkins.....exactly this scenario......running a back line when called upon....he and his mate TL will excel on the right side....if they bring all of their considerable experience it is on the cards that the timing will be > Tomkins / Johnson.

This is not a bad thing....and those two should be planing a big show this weekend ( I'm sure they are ).

Chad did one thing really well last week....he adjusted his kicking to trying to find the side line instead of the in goal.

If you are looking for more silver linings....it is quite possible that Mateo's renaissance against the Raiders was born out of Johnson being off the field.

Bare with me...there is a fuzzy logic with this......when Martel comes off the Bench the Warriors end up with playmaker overload....last week that didn't happen because their main ball playing half was out injured ( it's about balance ).

Martel is a tweak or two away from being the best attacking forward in the comp (he was in the first couple years at the Warriors.....Stats with meters gained and offloads were number one / top five consistently ).

Feleti is at his best when given some responsibility....the greatest game he ever played was as Captain of Tonga V the Kiwis.

Coming on to play the role he does while being given center stage suits Martel...it's like flicking a switch and the Warriors changing from conventional to Southpaw.....from set plays to the Feleti show,

I think a big part of his low periods are all about the confidence thing. Ivan Cleary was good at stroking Martels ego.

Went off on a tangent there......

As for the debate about whether we are not risking players because it is the Sharks......I think Mcfadden showed last weekend that he is an extremist on the subject and that it has nothing to do with who we are playing or where we are placed in the regular rounds....he backs his systems irrespective who is playing them.

If you look at this team selection it confirms Mcfadden playing 12 players last week was about no more injured players running around unless it's a finals game......at the risk of not making the finals.

Heck man he has pushed that philosophy as if he is Craig Bellamy or something....playing twelve men then the week after resting the two stars....that's Bellamy thru and thru. ...

What a bench no other bench comes close to ours in the nrl at the moment best team we can name based on injuries Henry is obviously not 100 I'd have him at centre in place of Neisen who is probably not 100 either but wouldn't mind either playing there Neilsens been pretty good lately can't wait till Laumape and Hurrell are back in the centres together with Fusitua on the wing but I may change my mind depending on how Lolohea goes on the wing for 80mins this week hope he does well definitely showed us glimpses of what he can do in 1 half of footy last week
Warriors Win 66-4

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